Mary Timony
"The Golden Dove"
(Matador)

Mary Timony impresses with her second solo record. The Golden Dove adds a lot to Timony's last effort; the arrangements are fuller, and the voice less timid then on Mountains. She has also moved further away from the quasi-prog Dungeons and Dragons lyrical thing that characterized the Magic City. There are some really great songs on this record, particularly the Liz Phair sounding pop-anthem 'Blood Tree.' 'The Ant's Dance' retains a bit of that prog lyrical element but adds a propulsive horn arrangement to a big drum beat for a song that rocks like prime Helium These songs are at once charming, mysterious, smart, funny, sexy, eerie, and mystical. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Mary Timony, and this album makes me remember why, she's angry yet inviting, tough yet soft.. There are some suspicious reference to classic/prog rock as usual, and a couple of songs fail to hold my attention, but overall it's an outstanding follow up to Mountains, and its also refreshing to know that Helium wasn't the end of the line. Mary Timony: she has come a long way since Autoclave.

-Dan